Christopher BarrettThe live events industry has broadly welcomed the Government response to the industry-led Licensing Taskforce report on licensing policy.
The Government has accepted the majority of the taskforce’s priority recommendations and acknowledged the need for legislative changes to be implemented.
It said it acknowledges the value in reviewing the licence length and fees for festivals and recognises the potential benefits of providing greater certainty and stability for recurring events, particularly in supporting long-term investment and planning. It said it would consider this area further as part of future reform in licensing, subject to wider consultation.
LIVE CEO Jon Collins said he was pleased to be able to work with Government on developing the proposals: “It is great to see so many positive, business friendly measures being championed. This rebalancing of the licensing regime will retain necessary protections while opening up new opportunities for venues, events and festivals. That will mean more joy, more vibrancy and, crucially, growth.”
Welcoming the recommendation in the report that a National Licensing Policy Framework be established, the Government said it would be an important step towards delivering a more consistent, transparent and pro-growth licensing system: “We acknowledge the merits in a framework that provides clear national direction for local licensing authorities while preserving local discretion in licensing decisions, that aligns licensing with broader government priorities.”
In response to a suggested ‘amnesty’ to modernise and streamline licences, the Government acknowledged that the initiative “offers a timely opportunity to review and remove outdated, disproportionate conditions – targeting premises that have undergone significant use or operation changes or have old conditions that were grandfathered in when the Licensing Act was first implemented”.
Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd said the grassroots venues charity warmly welcomed the Government response to the report of the Licensing Taskforce: “The recommendations put forward by the Taskforce are important steps in delivering licensing policy that is clear, common sense, and fair and reasonable. We strongly support the adoption of Agent of Change principles into licensing policy, reviews of grandfather clauses and a practical approach to temporary event notices, all of which are very practical ideas that will help to protect, secure and improve grassroots music venues.”